Acute Pulmonary Dose-responses to Inhaled Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes

Overview

Journal Nanotoxicology

Publisher Informa Healthcare

Specialties Biotechnology
Toxicology

Date 2012 Aug 14

PMID 22881873

Citations 92

Authors

Dale W Porter

Ann F Hubbs

Bean T Chen

Walter McKinney

Robert R Mercer

Michael G Wolfarth

Lori Battelli

Nianqiang Wu

Krishnan Sriram

Stephen Leonard

Michael Andrew

Patsy Willard

Shuji Tsuruoka

Morinobu Endo

Takayuki Tsukada

Fuminori Munekane

David G Frazer

Vincent Castranova

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

This study investigated the in vivo pulmonary toxicity of inhaled multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT). Mice-inhaled aerosolized MWCNT (10 mg/m³, 5 h/day) for 2, 4, 8 or 12 days. MWCNT lung burden was linearly related to exposure duration. MWCNT-induced pulmonary inflammation was assessed by determining whole lung lavage (WLL) polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). Lung cytotoxicity was assessed by WLL fluid LDH activities. WLL fluid albumin concentrations were determined as a marker of alveolar air-blood barrier integrity. These parameters significantly increased in MWCNT-exposed mice versus controls and were dose-dependent. Histopathologic alterations identified in the lung included (1) bronciolocentric inflammation, (2) bronchiolar epithelial hyperplasia and hypertrophy, (3) fibrosis, (4) vascular changes and (5) rare pleural penetration. MWCNT translocated to the lymph node where the deep paracortex was expanded after 8 or 12 days. Acute inhalation of MWCNT induced dose-dependent pulmonary inflammation and damage with rapid development of pulmonary fibrosis, and also demonstrated that MWCNT can reach the pleura after inhalation exposure.

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